What is the average income in Canada?

The median individual income in Canada is approximately $50,000–$55,000 per year before tax (2024 data). The average (mean) is higher, around $60,000–$65,000, pulled up by high earners. Incomes vary significantly by province, city, and profession.

What income is considered upper class in Canada?

Generally, an individual income above $100,000 puts you in roughly the top 10–15% of Canadian earners, while $150,000+ is top 5%. Household income thresholds are higher.

What makes a good salary in Canada?

In a lower-cost province (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Atlantic Canada), $70,000 goes a long way. In Toronto or Vancouver, $100,000 is considered a reasonable individual income to cover housing, living costs, and savings.

How do I negotiate a higher salary in Canada?

Research market rates using government wage data and job boards, time your ask to a performance review or new offer, quantify your value in numbers, and get the offer in writing. See our full salary negotiation guide.

Canadian Income Guide

Whether you are trying to find out what your profession pays, compare your income percentile, or negotiate a raise — this guide covers all income and salary resources for Canadians.

Average Income in Canada

Canada’s median household income sits around $90,000–$100,000 before tax, but this varies enormously by region and profession. Individual income tells a different story — see what your peers are earning using our city-by-city and province-by-province data.

Salaries by Profession

These guides break down earnings ranges, hourly rates, and career paths for dozens of Canadian professions.

Healthcare & Medicine

Law, Finance & Business

Trades & Technical

Public Sector & Services

Other Professions

Income by City

These pages show median and average income data for major Canadian cities and provinces.

Major Cities

By Province

Income Percentiles by Region

Find out how your income ranks compared to others in your city or province. These percentile calculators and tables show the earnings distribution for each region.

By City

Salary Calculators

What affects your income in Canada?

Several factors drive income levels for Canadian workers:

Education and credentials: University and college graduates earn significantly more on average than high school graduates. Professional designations (CPA, P.Eng., MD, JD) command premium wages. Trades certifications (Red Seal) provide strong income in skilled trades.

Province of residence: Alberta and Ontario have the highest median incomes; Atlantic provinces and Quebec (after tax) are lower. Resource-rich provinces benefit from commodity-sector wages.

Industry sector: Finance, tech, healthcare, and resource extraction pay above median. Retail, food service, and personal care services typically pay below median.

Experience and tenure: Income rises with experience, particularly in the first 10–15 years of a career. Median income for 45–54-year-olds is roughly 30–40% higher than for 25–34-year-olds.

Employment type: Full-time permanent workers earn more than part-time or contract workers. Federal and provincial public sector workers earn 10–15% more than private sector equivalents when total compensation (pension, benefits) is included.

Canadian income by education level (2024)

Education remains one of the strongest predictors of lifetime income in Canada:

Education level	Median individual income
High school diploma	~$38,000
Trades certificate / apprenticeship	~$55,000–$70,000
College diploma (2-year)	~$48,000
Bachelor’’s degree	~$58,000
Master’’s degree	~$72,000
Professional degree (MD, JD, DDS)	~$120,000+
PhD	~$85,000

Source: Statistics Canada, National Graduates Survey.

Important note: Skilled trades (journeyperson electricians, plumbers, pipefitters) regularly exceed bachelor’’s degree income, particularly in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Income by credential varies significantly by field of study and industry.

Career & Salary Advice

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